Biography John Bellamy

The USS Lancaster Eagle is a figurehead that was carved in 1880-1881 by John Haley Bellamy for the USS Lancaster. The eagle is currently owned by and displayed at The Mariners' Museum in Newport News, Virginia.

This eagle figurehead was carved for USS Lancaster (originally built in 1858) while the ship was at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard located in Kittery, Maine for repairs. There had previously been no figurehead on the ship and an eagle was chosen because of its representation of the United States and the qualities it symbolizes, which are courage, liberty and immortality. Bellamy was chosen to carve the figurehead because of his skill and the fact that his work was highly prized, and for this task he rece
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